Automatic dispenser



Feb. 24, 1970 J. MASON 3,497,108

AUTOMATIC DISPENSER Filed Oct. 26. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3.

M/I/ENTOR d/MM/E L. MASON a Y H/s AWOEWEYS fiAEQ/S, M501, RUSSELLfi/zi-teu Feb. 24, 1970 J. L. MASON 3,497,108

AUTOMATIC DISPENSER Filed 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L/IMM/E. L. MASON a? msATTORNEYS fiAee/s, M507, Russaz. 2 KER/v United States Patent M3,497,108 AUTUMATHI DISPENSER Jimmie L. Mason, Hacienda Heights, Califi,assignor to Dart Industries Inc., Los Angcles, Calif., 21 corporation ofDelaware Filled Get. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 678,421 int. Cl. BtlSf 11/00;365d 83/14 US. Cl. 222-s1 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISLOSURE Anautomatic dispensed including a storage capsule containing a dispensablesubstance and an assembly for automatically dispensing the substance atpredetermined intervals from a reservoir. A movable discharge valvemechanism reciprocates between an open and a closed position. due topressure differentials in the reservoir caused by the accumulation anddischarge of the substance. The dispensing assembly, or a portion of it,may be detachable and resusable.

This invention relates to automatic dispensers and more particularly toan automatic dispenser where a dispensable substance is retained underpressure or by suitable means for forcing flow of the substance. Acommon form of container for the substance is the aerosol container andsuch a form or method of packaging will be used throughout thisspecification as illustrative; however, types of containers employingother means for forcing flow of the substance are intended to be withinthe scope of the invention.

In a typical aerosol package, a capsule contains the dispensablesubstance, which may include a dispensable commodity such as aninsecticide or deodorizing agent, under pressure from a propellant whichforces the commodity into a standpipe which in turn lead to a manuallyoperated nozzle and valve assembly. The propellant usually is a gasunder pressure or a liquefied gas which has a pressure greater thanatmospheric at ordinary temperatures. The dispensable substance,however, may be only the propellant itself which, upon discharge, wouldbe used as a motive or drive force in the operation of some type ofmechanism such as a toy steam engine or a whistle. Any such dispensablesubstance is intended to be within the scope of this invention. Manualpressure applied to the nozzle and valve assembly opens the valve toemit a mist or spray of the substance from the standpipe through thenozzle to the atmosphere. Oftertimes, however, it is necessary ordesirable to emit the substance without the required manual operation,such as where the package is inaccessible or where periodic dischargesare desired and the manual operation would be both vexations andtime-consuming.

Dispensing containers have been developed where the dispensing operationis automatic rather than manual. or both, and certain of these devicesinclude means for regulating the time intervals between successive discharges. These automatic dispensers, however, are quite intricate andexpensive to manufacture and usually the entire device must be discardedwhen the supply of the stored substance is exhausted from its container.Typically the discharge mechanism and the actuation mechanism areseparate complex assemblies functioning apart from one another, whichresults in problems of maintenance of the parts and error in the propertime intervals between successive discharges.

I have developed a novel automatic dispenser which will periodicallydispense a stored substance at prede termined intervals, where theintervals are variable. A simple reciprocable discharge nozzle providesthe dis 3,497,108 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 charge valve for a relativelysimple dispensing assembly. A toggle member attached to the nozzleprovides an actuation mechanism so that the entire discharge assembly isa simple compact unit. The dispensing assembly, or a portion of it, maybe detachable from the capsule containing the substance and thedispensing assembly may therefore be reusable where the capsule itselfis the only item disposed of.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an automaticdispenser which is inexpensive to manufacture. Another object of thisinvention is to provide an automatic dispenser with a simple compactdischarge assembly. A further object of the invention is to provide anautomatic dispenser which periodically dispenses a substance from acontainer at predetermined intervals, where the intervals may beregulated.

It is another object of the invention to provide an automatic dispenserwhere the dispensing assembly may be detachable and reusable. Stillanother object of the invention is to provide in an automatic dispenser,the combination of a storage capsule; a reservoir, said storage capsulecontaining a dispensable substance including means forcing flow of saidsubstance into said reservoir; and discharge valve means for dispensingsaid substance at predetermined intervals from said reservoir includinga nozzle member and a toggle member forming a unitary mechanism, saidnozzle member and toggle member being reciprocable between a firstposition wherein said discharge valve means is closed and a secondposition wherein said discharge valve means is open, and biasing meansurging said toggle member toward said first position, said toggle memberincluding means responsive to pressure in said reservoir urging saidtoggle member toward said second position.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational, partly sectional view of a preferredembodiment of my automatic dispenser;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the discharge assembly of theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are elevational, partly sectional views of otherembodiments of my invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the fixed flow regulatingorifice of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional, partly elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.4 showing another form of shutoff mechanism and another form of fixedflow regulating orifice;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the shut-off mechanism of the embodimentof FIG. 7 taken along the line -88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the flow regulating orifice ofthe embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partly sectional, partly elevational view of the embodimentof FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the discharge assembly of theembodiment of FIGS. 5 and 10.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, an automatic dispenser 10 is shownwith a container or capsule 12 and a dispensing assembly 14. For ease inillustration, the container or capsule 12 is shown as an aerosol type ofcontainer and is described as such throughout herein; however, otherforms of capsules or containers for a dispensable substance are intendedto be within the scope of the invention, where the containers includesome suitable means or method of forcing the flow of the sub stance. Adispensable substance 15 is stored within the container 12 for periodicdischarge into the atmosphere by the dispensing assembly 14. Thedispensable substance 15 may consist of various elements, such as aliquid or gas propellant, or a dispensable commodity, or a combinationof a propellant and a dispensable commodity, and all such elements orcombinations thereof are intended to be included within the scope of theterm dispensable substance when used throughout herein.

More particularly, and as illustrative of a form of my inventionemploying one such dispensable substance, the dispensable substance 15includes a dispensable commodity 16, for example an insecticide or adeodorizing agent, under pressure from a typical liquefied propellant188 for example the chorofiuorohydrocarbons available under thetrademark Freon. The propellant 18 forces the commodity 16 downwardly inthe capsule 12 and into the lower end of a standpipe 20, thence upwardlythrough the standpipe 20 to a normally closed release port 22. Therelease port 22 may include a self-sealing diaphragm cover 24 formedabouta hollow seat support member 26 which in turn is attached to anupper retaining cup member or cap 28 of the capsule 12. The release port22 may include a common form of release valve 122, as shown in FIGS. 4,5, and 7.

The cup member 28 forms the upper portion of the capsule 12 and isattached to an upper circular rim or edge 30 of the capsule 12 bycrimping or other suitable means. Similarly attached to the circular rim30' of the capsule 12 may be a cylindrical member or lower cup 32extending below the cap 28 and having a base portion 34 with adownwardly protruding, centrally positioned tube 36. The tubularprotrusion 36 is sized to snugly fit within the upper end portion of thestandpipe 20, and the lower cup 32 may serve an as accumulator for thecommodity 16 forced through the standpipe 20 by the propellant 18. Afixed orifice 38 may be provided in the tubular protrusion 36 toregulate the rate of flow of the commodity 16 into the accumulator 32.The capsule or container 12, the standpipe 20, the accumulator 32, andthe cap member 28 may be metallic or any suitable plastic material.

The dispensing assembly 14 includes a hollow housing or shell member 40which may be cylindrical with a base portion 42, and the assembly 14 ispreferably detachably connected to the capsule or container 12 by meansof a hollow cylindrical cap member 44 beneath the base portion 42 wherethe cap member 44 is sized to snugly receive the outer perimeter portionof the upper rim 30 of the capsule 12. The friction force between thecap member 44 and the rim 30 preferably is quite small and may beapproximately equal to the upward force on a needle 78 which puncturesthe selfsealing diaphragm cover 24. Other suitable means of detachablyconnecting the assembly 14 to the container 12 may be provided, such asa threaded or a snap-fit type of connection (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hollow interior of the housing 40provides a reservoir or valve chamber 46 for the commodity 16. Extendingupwardly within the reservoir 46 from the base 42 is a hollowcylindrical seat member 48 adapted to receive the lower portion of ahollow cylindrical nozzle member 50 which extends upwardly and outwardlyto the atmosphere. Located approximately centrally of the nozzle member50 is a cir cular peripheral toggle or diaphragm member 52 seated in acircular groove 54 in the upper end of the housing 40. The diaphragmmember 52 may be formed from any suitable material, such as plastic,metal, metal coated plastic, or a laminate of the two materials. Thediaphragm 52 may be formed as part of the nozzle member 50 or may beformed in two pieces with a stem attached to the nozzle and a separateflexing member seated on the stem (not shown). Additionally, a spring(not shown) may be provided to bias the flexible toggle member.

An annular seal 56, for example neoprene, may be provided between theouter rim of the toggle member 52 and the housing 40 as shown. Acircular seal or cap member 58 is attached, as by sonic welding, snapfitting, or bolting, to the outer end of the housing 40 and the seal cap58 includes a central bore 60 to loosely receive the nozzle member 50.The nozzle 50 is capped at its base 62 and has one Or preferably twoopposed ports 64 adjacent the base 62 and opening outwardly from anozzle discharge port 66 which opens to the atmosphere. An O-ring 68 anda retainer ring 70, retained in respective pockets 72 and 74 of the seatmember 48, act as a guide and seal for the lower portion of the nozzle50. A central bore 76 of the retainer ring 70 is sized to looselyreceive the nozzle 50 and to allow passage of the commodity 16therebetween.

A hollow needle member 78 is located centrally of the base 42 of thehousing 40 and extends downwardly therefrom. A port 80 connects theneedle member 78 with the reservoir 46. As the dispensing assembly 14 isattached to the capsule 12, the needle 78 punctures the diaphragm 24allowing the commodity 16 to flow from the accumulator 32 or standpipe20 into the reservoir 46. A needle valve 82 is screw-threaded into aside port 84 of the housing 40 and may be used to adjust the rate offlow of the commodity 16 from the port 80 into the reservoir 46. Theneedle valve 82 and the fixed orifice 38 beneath the accumulator 32thereby provide two independent flow regulators for the commodity 16.The needle valve 82, being adjustable, may additionally completely blockthe flow of the commodity 16 into the reservoir 46, thereby serving as ameans for shutting oil the entire dispensing assembly 14.

As can be seen, the nozzle 50 and the toggle member 52 provide adischarge valve means for the commodity 16 accumulated within thereservoir 46. When the nozzle is in the position as shown in FIG. 1, theO-ring 68 prevents flow of the commodity from the reservoir 46 to theside ports 64 of the nozzle 50. When the nozzle 50 is in the position asshown by FIG. 2, the side ports 64 are raised above the O-ring 68 andthe commodity 16 may flow into the nozzle port 66 to be discharged intothe atmosphere. Discharge of the commodity 16 into the atmosphere isproduced by the initial pressure of the propellant 18 in the capsule 12.The toggle or diaphragm member 52 is adapted to snap between theposition in FIG. 1 and the position in FIG. 2 carrying with it thenozzle member 50, and therefore the nozzle 50 and toggle member 52reciprocate between these two positions which constitute, respectively,the closed and open positions of the discharge valve means.

Initially, the toggle or diaphragm member 52 is selfbiased due to itsinherent construction into the position in FIG. 1 where the valve meansis closed. A separate biasing means may be employed to bias thediaphragm member 52 into its said initial position, for example as shownby spring-biasing means 262 in FIG. 5. As the commodity 16 accumulatesin the accumulator 32 from the pressure of the propellant 18 and flowsinto the reservoir 46, the accumulation of the commodity in thereservoir 46 exerts pressure on the diaphragm or toggle 52. When thispressure exceeds the preloading tension in the toggle 52, the togglesnaps upwardly into the second position in FIG. 2, or the open dischargevalve position, where the commodity 16 in the reservoir 46 is dischargedinto the atmosphere. The amount of commodity 16 discharged is usuallyall or part of that portion of the commodity within the reservoir 46;however, some of the commodity Within the accumulator 32 may bedischarged as well under certain conditions. When sufficient commodityis so discharged, the pressure in the reservoir 46 recedes to below theprestressed tension or loading force of the toggle 52 and the toggle 52snaps back to the closed valve position where the nozzle 58 isreciprocated to its position as shown in FIG. 1. This procedure isautomatically repeated until the supply of the commodity 16 in thecapsule 12 is exhausted.

The time interval between successive discharges of the commodity 16 fromthe reservoir 46 is dependent upon the size of the orifice 38 as well asthe position of the needle valve 82 with respect to the port 88. Theaccumulator 32 with the orifice 38 serves as one flow regulator and timeinterval control mechanism while the needle valve 82 and reservoir 46serve as another such mechanism. Of course, orifice 38 or needle valve82, or both, may be omitted. Adjusting the position of the needle valve82 provides a means for varying the time interval between successivedischarges of the commodity 16. When the supply of the commodity 16 isexhausted, the dispensing assembly 14 may be detached and reused onanother similar capsule 12, and the depleted capsule may be disposed of.Because the diaphragm 24 is self-sealing, the dispensing assembly 14 maybe removed prior to the exhaustion of the commodity 16, and the capsule12 may be stored for reuse.

It is apparent, therefore, that the automatic dispenser of FIG. 1provides a mechanically simple and inexpensive dispensing assembly forthe stored substance. The dispensing assembly is detachable andreusable, and the capsule for the stored substance can be discarded whenthe supply of the substance is exhausted. A simple recipro cable nozzlemember with its toggle diaphragm provides the discharge valve means forthe dispensing assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, another embodiment 98 of anautomatic dispenser is shown. In this embodiment, a dispensing assembly94 is contained within the container or capsule 12 which is similar tothe capsule of FIG. 1. The dispensing assembly 94 is suitably mountedwithin the lower cup member 32 which served as the accumulator in theembodiment of FIG. 1. The dispensable substance is again shown asincluding a dispensable commodity 16 and a propellant 18, as exemplary.The commodity 16 is forced by the propellant 18 into the standpipe 20,thence through the tubular protrusion 36 of the base 34 of the cupmember 32. By placing the orifice 38 at the base of the standpipe 28, anaccumulation chamber 96 may be formed in the standpipe beneath thedispensing assembly 94.

A hollow nozzle member 58 and a toggle diaphragm member 52, as in theembodiment of FIG. 1, reciprocate between a first and second positionand constitute the discharge valve means. A hollow cylindrical member 98with a base 188 forms the body or housing of the dispensing assembly 94where a central reservoir 182 is formed about the base of the nozzle 58.The inner portion of the nozzle 58 is seated in a cylindrical bore 184in the base 108 where a neoprene O-ring 186 is suitably retained by acircular retaining ring 188.

The retaining ring 188 has a central opening 189 sized to looselyreceive the inner portion of the nozzle 58 and allowing the commodity 16to pass therebetween to the side ports 64 of the nozzle 58. A port 118leads from the reservoir 182 through the retainer ring 188 and the base188 to the tube member 36 and the accumulation area 96 of the standpipe28. An upper retaining cup or seal member 112 is provided at the top ofthe dispensing assembly 94 and is suitably attached to the upper rimportion 38 of the capsule 12. The retaining cup 112 is centrally boredto receive the upper portion of the nozzle 58 as it reciprocates betweenits first and second positions, which correspond to the closed and openpositions of the discharge valve means.

The periodic discharge of the commodity 16 again results from thepressure difierentials between the selfbiased toggle or diaphragm member52 and the pressure from the accumulation of the commodity 16 in thereservoir 102. The rate of flow of the commodity 16 is regulated by thefixed orifice 38 in the base of the standpipe 28. A cap member 114(shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3) may be attached at the top of thecapsule 12 and prevents the nozzle 58 from moving from its firstposition to its second position. The cap member 114 may therefore shutoff operation of the dispensing assembly 94. When the supply of thecommodity 16 is exhausted, the entire dispenser, including the capsule12 and the dispensing assembly 94, may be discarded.

Another embodiment of the invention, as indicated by 128, is shown inFIG. 4. A preferably detachable and reuseable dispensing assembly 124 isshown secured to a typical aerosol capsule 12 with a dispensablesubstance 15 including a commodity 16 under pressure from a propellant18 forcing the commodity 16 up through the standpipe 28, as with theembodiment of FIG. 1. A typical release valve mechanism 122 is shown atthe top of the capsule 12 and is suitably attached to a cap member 126which in turn is secured to the upper peripheral rim 38 of the capsule12. A tube member 128 protrudes beneath the release valve mechanism 122where it is received by the upper portion of the standpipe 20. The tubemember 128 may include a fixed orifice 138 to regulate the fiow of thecommodity 16 into the valve mechanism 122 which is normally closedbefore the dispensing assembly 124 is attached to the capsule 12. Thecap 126 may be threaded about the upper portion of the valve mechanism122, or is otherwise suitably formed for attachment of the dispensingassembly 124.

The dispensing assembly 124 includes two body members 132 and 134 whichare attached together, for example, by set screws 136 to form thehousing. A base member 138 is suitably attached to the member 132, forexample by the threaded bore 148 in member 132. The base member 138 hasa threaded bore 142 which receives the threaded portion of the cap 126about the valve mechanism 122. A pin 144 in the base member 138protrudes downwardly within the bore 142 and applies pressure to aspring-loaded valve member 146 of the valve mechanism 122 as thedispensing assembly 124 is attached to the capsule 12, thereby openingthe valve mechanism 122 allowing the commodity 16 to flow into a port148 of the base member 138 and through an orifice 158 and thence into areservoir 152 in the dispensing assembly 124. The orifice 158 regulatesflow of the commodity 16 into the reservoir 152. As shown by FIG. 6, theorifice 158 is formed in an orifice assembly 151 sandwiched between twoannular seals 154 of neoprene or any suitable material, and the orificeitself may be of quite small diameter, for example .004 inch at itsnarrowest point. From the orifice 158 a port 156 leads to the reservoir152.

The discharge mechanism of the dispensing assembly 124 is similar tothat shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and includes a nozzle member 158with a toggle diaphragm member 168 suitably received in the member 132,as shown in FIG. 4. A nozzle port 162 in the outer portion of the nozzlemember 158 leads to the atmosphere and the inner portion of the nozzlemember 158 moves or reciprocates within a bore 164 in the member 134.The outer portion of the nozzle member 158 is loosely received by acircular hole 166 in the member 132 where the nozzle member 158 isretained by an O- ring 168 and a retainer ring 178 suitably seated inthe member 132 as shown. The toggle diaphragm member 168 is self-biasedinto its first position as shown in FIG. 4, constituting the closedposition of the discharge mechanism, where the O-ring 168 prevents flowof the commodity 16 into one or preferably two opposed nozzle ports 172leading to the nozzle discharge port 162. Pressure from the commodity 16accumulating in the reservoir 152 snaps the diaphragm member 168rearwardly moving the nozzle member 158 to its second position where thecommodity 16 flows past the retainer ring 178 and into the side ports172 and the nozzle discharge port 162 and thence into the atmosphere.When the commodity 16 from the reservoir 152 is dispensed, thepretensioning force on the toggle diaphragm member 160 snaps thedischarge mechanism back into its first position. The nozzle and togglemembers, therefore, form a simple unitary discharge valve mechanism forthe dispensing assembly 124.

A shut-off device 173 is provided for the dispensing assembly 124 andincludes a pin 174 with a shank 176 having two peripheral grooves orraces 178. The shut-off device 173 is a ball-detent spring-loaded systemwhere a spring plunger 180 biases a ball or ball detent 182 into one ofthe grooves 178. The spring plunger 180 is adjustably attached to themember 134, for example, by screw threading as shown. Normally theshut-off device 173 is in the open position, as indicated, and thedispensing assembly 124 will operate continuously until the commodity 16is exhausted from the capsule 12. By pressing the pin 174 inwardly, theshaft 176 moves inwardly to abut against the rear face of the nozzlemember 158 where the spring-loaded ball detent 182 is biased into theouter groove 178 to lock the pin in position. The nozzle member 158 isthereby prevented from moving from its first position to its second oropen-valve position, and the dispensing assembly is effectively shutoff. To reset the dispensing assembly for automatic operation, the pin174 is pulled outwardly until the ball detent 182 is biased into theinner groove 178 of the shaft 176.

When the supply of the substance 15 is exhausted, the dispensingassembly 124 may be detached from the capsule 12 and reused, and thecapsule 12 may be discarded. The base member 138 of the dispensingassembly 124 may also be detached from the dispensing assembly 124 anddiscarded or may be reused as well.

FIG. 7 shows a dispensing assembly 124a similar to the embodiment shownin FIG. 4, but including another form of shutoff device 188 and adifferent form of fixed orifice 15%. The remainder of the dispensingassembly 124a and its supply capsule 12 are similar to that shown anddiscussed in connection with FIG. 4. The fixed ori fice 150a, as shownin FIG. 9, includes two circular gaskets 184 of neoprene or similarmaterial which sandwich a thin piece of aluminum foil 186. The orifice150a typically is formed by a needle hole, for example .004 inch indiameter, in the center of the aluminum foil 186, and the orifice 150aagain opens to the port 156 which empties into the reservoir 152.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a shut-oif device 188 is provided for thedispensing assembly 124a. The shut-off device 188 includes an arm 190bent at an angle of approximately 130 where one end of the arm isrotatably attached to a pin 192. The arm 190 is adapted to pivot withina groove 194 in a body member 13411. Member 134a is preferably circularas shown in FIG. 8. During normal operation of the dispensing assembly124a, the arm 190 rests against a pin 196 allowing nozzle member 158a toreciprocate within a bore 16412 of the body member 134a. To shut off thedispensing assembly 124a, the arm 190 is pivoted counterclockwise to theposition shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 8 where the arm 190 abutsagainst the inner face 198 of the valve member 158a thereby preventingmovement of the valve member 158a from its first to its second position.When operation of the dispenser is again desired, the arm 190 is rotatedclockwise to its position resting against pin 196 as shown in FIG. 8. Inthe preferred embodiment, pins 192 and 196 are portions of the shafts ofthe set screws 136 which attach the body members 134a and 132 of thedispensing assembly 124a.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 10, 11 and 12, another embodiment 210 of anautomatic dispenser is shown. A dispensing assembly 214 is preferablydetachably connected to a capsule 12 similar to the capsule of theembodiment of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. The dispensable substance 15 may againinclude a commodity 16 under pressure from a propellant 18 forcing thecommodity 16 up through stand pipe 20 to a release valve mechanism 122attached to cap member 126 where a fixed orifice in the standpipe 20regulates flow of the commodity 16. Again the cap member 126 may bescrew-threaded about the upper portion of release valve mechanism 122.

The dispensing assembly 214 includes a top body member 216, anintermediate body member 218, and a base member 220 forming the housing,where the base member 220 includes a threaded bore 222 to receive thecap member 126 of the capsule 12. As the dispensing assembly 214 isattached to the capsule 12, a pin member 224 in the base member 220opens the release valve mechanism 122 enabling the commodity 16 to flowthrough a port 226 past an adjustable orifice 228 to twin accumulationchambers 230 and thence to a reservoir 232. The three body members 216,218 and 220 are suitably attached together, as for example by set screws234.

The adjustable orifice 228 is formed by a needle valve 236 whichprojects into the end opening of the port 226. The needle valve 236 isadjustable and extends from a screw-threaded cap member 240 which seatson a threaded protrusion 242 on the body member 216. By adjusting thecap member 240, the needle valve 236 in turn adjusts the rate of flow ofthe commodity 16 from the port 226. The needle valve 236 may be used asa shut-01f device for the dispensing assembly 214 when the needle valve236 completely blocks the opening of the port 226.

A small chamber 244 receives the commodity 16 when it has passed theorifice 228. Two annular neoprene gaskets 246 seal the edges of the bodymembers 216 and 218, and 218 and 220, respectively, as they abut andform the chamber 244. From chamber 244, fiow of the commodity 16 isdiverted into two ports 248 each leading to an accumulation chamber 230in the intermediate member 218. Suitable sealing means 250 are providedbetween the base portions of the accumulation chambers 230 and the basemember 220 which forms the bottoms of the chambers. The sealing means250 may be annular diaphragm members as shown. Ports 252 leads from theaccumulation chambers 230 to the reservoir 232.

The discharge mechanism for the commodity 16 within the reservoir 232 issimilar to the discharge mechanisms previously discussed in connectionwith the other embodiments and includes a nozzle member 256 with atoggle diaphragm member 258 suitably seated in the intermediate bodymember 218 of the dispensing assembly 214. The nozzle member 256reciprocates between a first and second position and constitutes thedischarge valve means as previously discussed, where an annular O-ring260 (FIG. 12) blocks flow of the commodity 16 to side ports 262 of thenozzle member 256 when the nozzle is in its first or valve-closedposition as shown in FIGS. 5 and 12.

The nozzle member 256 is biased into said first position by theself-biasing pretension force on the toggle diaphragm member 258 andalso by a supplementary springbiasing means 263.

The upper portion of the nozzle member 256 may form an elongatedcircular shaft 264 which reciprocates within a hollow cap member 266.The cap member 266 is suitably attached to the body member 216 as forexample by the screw threads 268 as shown. A spring member 270preferably surrounds the shaft 264 of the nozzle member 256 within thebore of the cap member 266 and abuts against the diaphragm member 258 atone end and against a screw insert member 272 of the cap member 266 atthe other end, and acts to bias the diaphragm member 258 and the nozzlemember 256 into the said first position. By adjusting screw insertmember 272 or cap member 266, the biasing force applied by biasing means263 is correspondingly adjusted, providing another means of varying thedischarge cycle time.

As the commodity 16 accumulates in the reservoir 232, pressure againstthe toggle diaphragm 258 and the spring 270 increases until thediaphragm 258 snaps to its second position moving the nozzle member 256upwardly allowing the commodity 16 to flow into the side ports 262 ofthe nozzle member 256 and through a nozzle port 274 into a port 276 ofthe base member 220 and thence to the atmosphere through an opening 278.The second position of the diaphragm 258 and the nozzle member 256, orthe open discharge valve position, is shown in FIG. 10. The pretensionforce from the diaphragm member 258 and the biasing force from thespring member 270 force the diaphragm to snap back to its first positionwhen the commodity 16 has been discharged from the reservoir 232 and theaccumulation chambers 230. This process is repeated until the commodity16 is exhausted from the capsule 12, or until the needle valve 236 isadjusted to block orifice 228 to shut off the dispenser. When thecommodity 16 has been exhausted from the capsule 12, the capsule 12 isdetached from the dispensing assembly 214 and discarded, whereas thedispensing assembly 214 may be reused.

While the preferred structures of the various embodiments have beenshown and disclosed, many changes, modifications, and substitutions maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In an automatic dispenser, the combination of:

a storage capsule;

a reservoir, said storage capsule containing a dispensable substanceincluding means forcing fiow of said substance into said reservoir; and

discharge valve means for dispensing said substance at predeterminedintervals from said reservoir, including a nozzle member and a togglemember forming a unitary mechanism and having a flow passagetherethrough, said nozzle member and toggle member being reciprocablebetween a first position wherein said discharge valve means is closedand a second position wherein said discharge valve means is open, withsaid flow passage providing an outlet from said reservoir when saidnozzle member and toggle member move to said second position, andbiasing means urging said toggle member toward said first position, saidtoggle member including means responsive to pressure in said reservoirurging said toggle member toward said second position.

2. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 including shut-01f meansfor preventing movement of said nozzle member and toggle member fromsaid first position to said second position.

3. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said togglemember is self-biased toward said first position.

4. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said togglemember is spring-loaded toward said first position.

5. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 including means forvarying the rate of flow of said substance into said reservoir.

6. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 including anaccumulation chamber for said substance communicating with saidreservoir and a fixed orifice regulating flow of said susbtance intosaid chamber.

7. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said reservoir,said discharge valve means, and said biasing means are housed within adispensing assembly releasably attached to said capsule.

8. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said reservoir,said discharge valve means, and said biasing means are housed within adispensing assembly permanently affixed to said capsule.

9. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 7 including a fixedorifice contained within said capsule regulating flow of said substanceinto said reservoir.

10. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein said capsuleincludes a release means normally in a closed position preventing flowof said substance from said capsule, said dispenser including flowcontrol means responsive to said attachment for opening said releasemeans to permit flow of said substance into said reservoir.

11. A dispensing assembly for a capsule containing a dispensablesubstance including means forcing flow of said substance, said assemblyincluding:

a reservoir for receiving a portion of said substance;

and

discharge valve means for dispensing said substance from said reservoirat predetermined intervals and including a nozzle member and a togglemember forming a reciprocable discharge mechanism having a flow passagetherethrough, said discharge mechanism having a first position whereinsaid discharge valve means is closed and a second position wherein saiddischarge valve means is open, with said flow passage providing anoutlet from said reservoir when said discharge mechanism moves to saidsecond position, and biasing means urging said discharge mechanismtoward said first position, said toggle member including meansresponsive to pressure in said reservoir urging said discharge mechanismtoward said second position.

12. In an automatic dispenser for use with a container charged with afluid under pressure, the invention comprising:

a housing for mounting to said container and including means defining avalve chamber;

flow means defining a continuously open flow passage between theinterior of said container and said valve chamber; and

valve means including a flexible diaphragm carrying an outlet nozzel andmoun ed in said housing forming a wall of said valve chamber, saiddiaphragm and nozzle being movable between a blocking position blockingfluid flow through said nozzle and a discharge position permitting fluidflow from said chamber through said nozzle, and means for biasing saiddiaphragm toward said blocking position.

13. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 12 in which saiddiaphragm is self-biased.

14. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 12 in which said meansfor biasing includes a spring carried in said housing.

15. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 12 wherein said flowmeans includes a rate of flow control restriction in said passage.

16. An automatic dispenser as defined in claim 15 including means forvarying said rate of flow.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,766 11/1954 Peltz 22270 X3,187,949 6/1965 Mangel 22270 3,211,336 10/1965 Gasser 222335 X3,258,170 6/1966 Ayres et a1.

3,305,134 2/1967 Carmichael et al. 22270 3,321,114 5/1967 Croyle 2224993,326,418 6/1967 Kropp 22270 3,360,165 12/1967 Iketani 22254 ROBERT B.REEVES, Primary Examiner FREDERICK P. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner US.01. X.R. 222-70, 499; 137-62414

